INFORMATION

For more information or questions regarding Giving Tuesday, please contact Anna Wiederrich at awiederrich@embe.org or 605-681-8341.

Giving Tuesday: Celebrating Gratitude, Community and the Women Who Inspire Us

At EmBe, Giving Tuesday is more than a day of generosity—it’s a celebration of gratitude. It’s our moment to honor the partners, families, and champions who power our programs year-round. This year, we are especially excited to spotlight one of those champions: friend of EmBe, devoted community leader, and the 2025 Young Woman of Achievement EMBES Award recipient, Marcela Salas.

“We believe in EmBe’s mission, and we believe in what you do in the community. It is so beautiful and important, and we’re grateful to support the matriarch of our community.” – Marcela Salas

Marcela embodies EmBe’s mission by showing what is possible when courage and vision meet opportunity. Knowing the sky wasn’t even the limit, she took flight—literally and figuratively—earning her private pilot license and stepping boldly into leadership roles that inspire youth, especially young women, to pursue fields once considered out of reach.

She serves as Membership Chair for the Women in Aviation Great Planes Chapter and volunteers at the Sioux Falls Airshow, Discover Aviation Day, and Women in Science events, showing the next generation that curiosity, courage, and vision can create limitless opportunities.

In 2020, Marcela made another bold pivot—transforming a treasured family recipe from a single farmers market table into a thriving downtown restaurant, an award-winning food truck, and regional salsa distribution. Her business accomplishments have earned recognition from the James Beard Foundation, Hy-Vee Pitch Competition, Startup Sioux Falls, and Downtown Sioux Falls.

But what makes Marcela extraordinary is not only her achievements—it’s how she uses them. She advocates for inclusive spaces, mentors aspiring entrepreneurs, and uses her platform to speak out on social issues. Her story is proof that resilience and vision can shape both a career and a community.

The EMBES & Women’s Programs

One of the key events that sustains EmBe’s Women’s Programs is The EMBES: A Tribute to Women, an annual celebration now in its 52nd year. When this event began as a simple leadership luncheon, founder Sylvia Henkin was famously told she’d soon “run out of women to recognize.”

Decades later, the opposite is true.

This year, EmBe received a record-breaking number of nominations—reflecting the countless women who are leading, building, and strengthening our community. Their journeys are the reason EmBe exists. And your Giving Tuesday gifts ensure their stories continue to flourish for generations to come.

Dine & Give: A Special Giving Tuesday Partner

To make Giving Tuesday even more meaningful, a portion of all sales on December 2, 2025, at Marcela’s restaurant, Bibisol, will be donated back to EmBe. It’s one more way Marcela continues to give back to the community that believes in her—and one more reason to support local businesses that uplift women and families.

Join Us This Giving Tuesday – Giving Back to What Matters Most

On this global day of giving, EmBe is inviting our community to support scholarships within the pillar that resonates with them most—Education, Youth, Women’s Programming, or Aquatics. Your gift helps us continue telling stories of impact throughout the year and ensures that families, children, and women across our region have access to the support they need.

Every gift makes a difference.
Whether it’s $5 or $500, every dollar fuels scholarships that create real opportunities:

  • Safe and reliable childcare

  • Life-saving swim skills

  • Transformative youth programs

  • Empowering experiences for women and girls

No matter the size, your contribution has impact. Give to the program that means the most to you here:
https://app.dvforms.net/api/dv/66823z

Give. Share. Celebrate.
Together, we can continue empowering women, children, and families through programs that change lives every single day.

Thank you for making a difference—and for believing in the people and stories that shape our mission.